According to the Portland Tribune, former chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, John Frohnmayer is considering a bid for the U.S. Senate.

From the Trib...

Of late, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has been casting about desperately for a candidate to challenge Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith, causing speculation to arise even about nonpoliticians like John Russell.

In comparison to such speculation, however, one name sounds like a sure thing – John Frohnmayer. The only catch? He’s not a Democrat.

Frohnmayer, brother of former Oregon Attorney General Dave Frohnmayer and an art historian at Oregon State University, is a former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts under George H.W. Bush.

A registered Independent who formerly was a Republican, Frohnmayer told Sources Say he plans to announce his decision around Labor Day, but political observers say that his candidacy is very close to a sure thing.

Frohnmayer’s rationale is that partisanship is out of control, and that contrary to the incumbent’s bipartisan shtick, Smith is no better than any of them out there in Washington, D.C.

Which side would he take more votes from? Frohnmayer doesn’t know or care, saying, “If I run, I’m going to run to win.”